UCF picked 4th in east in C-USA preseason poll

Conference USA preseason poll

UCF was picked to finish fourth in the East division in an independent poll voted on by select members of the media. Knight Bruce Miller, a junior defensive end, also earned second-team all-C-USA honors.

Houston was projected to be the Conference USA overall champion, edging East Carolina 11-10 in voting. Southern Miss earned four first-place votes while Tulsa earned two. The Cougars were picked to win the West while the Pirates were projected to win theEast.

Houston quarterback Case Keenum earned preseason Offensive Player of the Year and unanimous first-team honors rom the 24-member media panel. As a sophomore, Keenum led the nation in total offense (403.2 yards-per-game) and was second in passing yardage (5,020 yards) and completions per game (30.54) with 44 touchdowns.

East Carolina defensive end C.J. Wilson is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Tulsa kick returner Damaris Johnson is the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.

East Carolina and Houston tied for the most all-C-USA picks, with eight apiece. The Pirates had the most first-team honors at six.

Southern Miss had six players chosen to the first and second teams; Tulsa, UTEP and Marshall five each; Memphis and Rice four each; Southern Methodist three, UCF two; and Tulane and UAB one apiece.